Explain why BB and pellet air guns must always be treated with
the same respect as firearms.

Describe how you would react if a friend visiting your home
asked to see your or your family's firearm(s).

Explain the need for, and use and types of, eye and hearing
protection.

Give the main points of the laws for owning and using guns in
your community and state.

Explain how hunting is related to the wise use of renewable
wildlife resources.

Obtain a copy of the hunting laws for your state. Explain the
main points of hunting laws in your state and give any special laws
on the use of guns or ammunition.

Identify and explain how you can join or be a part of shooting
sports activities.

Explain to your counselor the proper hygienic guidelines used
in shooting.

Give to your counselor a list of sources that you could contact
for information on firearms and their use.

Do ONE of the following options:

OPTION A --- RIFLE SHOOTING (Modern Cartridge Type)

Identify the three main parts of a rifle, and tell how they
function.

Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for
safe gun handling.

Identify the two types of cartridges, their parts, and how
they function.

Explain to your counselor what a misfire, hangfire, and
squib fire are, and explain the procedures to follow in response
to each.

Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting
a rifle safely.

Identify and explain each rule for safe shooting.

Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary
to safely shoot a rifle from the bench rest position or supported
prone position while using the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.

Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning a rifle, and
identify the materials needed

Demonstrate how to clean a rifle properly and safely.

Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a rifle

Using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle and shooting from a bench
rest or supported prone position at 50 feet, fire five groups
(three shots per group) that can be covered by a quarter. Using
these targets, explain how to adjust sights to zero a rifle.

Adjust sights to center the group on the target* and fire
five groups (five shots per group). According to the target
used, each shot in the group must meet the following minimum
score:

A-32 targets - 9

A-17 or TQ-1 targets - 7,

A-36 targets - 5.

*Note: It is not always practical to adjust the sights (i.e.
when using a borrowed fixed-sight rifle). For requirement 2l,
you may demonstrate your ability to use the shooting fundamentals
by shooting five shot groups (five shots per group) in which
all shots can be covered by or touch a quarter and then explain
how to adjust the sights to zero the rifle used.

OPTION B --- AIR RIFLE SHOOTING (BB or Pellet)

Identify the three main parts of an air rifle, and tell
how they function.

Identify and demonstrate the three fundamental rules for
safe gun handling.

Identify the two most common types of air rifle ammunition.

Identify and demonstrate the five fundamentals of shooting
a rifle safely.

Identify and explain each rule for shooting an air rifle
safely.

Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary
to safely shoot a target from the bench rest position or supported
prone position while using the five fundamentals of rifle shooting.

Identify the basic safety rules for cleaning an air rifle,
and identify the materials needed.

Demonstrate how to clean an air rifle safely.

Discuss what points you would consider in selecting an air
rifle.

Using a BB gun or pellet air rifle and shooting from a bench
rest or supported prone position at 15 feet for BB guns or 33
feet for air rifles, fire five groups (three shots per group)
that can be covered by a quarter.

Adjust sights to center the group on the target and fire
five groups (five shots per group). According to the target
used, each shot in the group must meet the following minimum
score:

Identify proper procedures and accessories used for loading
a muzzle-loading rifle.

Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary
to safely shoot a muzzle-loading rifle on a range, including
range procedures.

Shoot a target with a muzzle-loading rifle using the five
fundamentals of firing the shot.

Identify the materials needed to clean a muzzle- loading
rifle safely. Using these materials, demonstrate how to clean
a muzzle-loading rifle safely.

Identify the causes of a muzzle-loading rifle's failing
to fire and explain or demonstrate proper correction procedures.

Discuss what points you would consider in selecting a muzzle-loading
rifle.

Using a muzzle-loading rifle of .45 or .50 caliber and shooting
from a bench rest or supported prone position, fire three groups
(three shots per group) that can be covered by the base of a
standard-size soft soft drink can.

Center the group on the target and fire three groups (five
shots per group). According to the target used, each shot in
the group must meet the following minimum score:

at 25 yards using NRA A-23 or NMLRA 50-yard targets
- 7;

at 50 yards using NRA A-25 or NMLRA 100 yard targets
- 7.

Shooting Sports Merit Badge Counselor Requirements and Registration

Section 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors, in the 2015 Guide to
Advancement (BSA Publication 33088 - SKU 620573) has specific special
qualifications or certifications for either the merit badge counselor or
the supervisor of certain activities that may be involved with the Rifle
Shooting Merit Badge, as follows:

Rifle Shooting. The merit badge counselor is responsible for ensuring
that all instruction or other activities involving any handling of firearms
or live ammunition is consistent with state and federal law and supervised
by a certified BSA National Camping School (NCS) shooting sports director,
or National Rifle Association (NRA) Rifle Shooting Instructor or Coach.
Instruction or other activities involving handling muzzleloaders must
be supervised by an NCS shooting sports director or NRA/National Muzzleloader
Rifle Association (NMLRA)–certified muzzleloader firearms instructor.
Shooting must be supervised by an NRA certified Range Safety Officer
(RSO). If instruction and shooting are to occur at the same time, both
the RSO and qualified instructor must be present. The supervisor and
instructor may not be the same person. Note that commercial shooting
ranges may provide RSOs. See the Guide to Safe Scouting and
the BSA National Shooting Sports Manual, No. 30931, for further
details on shooting sports

To qualify as a shooting sports merit badge counselor, a volunteer must:

Register annually with the Boy Scouts of America.

Be at least 21 years old.

Be of good character.

Be proficient in the merit badge subject by vocation, avocation,
or special training.

Be certified by the National Rifle Association as an instructor
for the merit badge discipline or be currently certified as a National
Camping School shooting sports director with the NRA rifle and shotgun
instructor certification. For example, a Rifle Shooting merit badge
counselor must be a certified NRA rifle instructor.

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